Daniel Jack, Jodie Eaton, Neville Christenson, Neville Christenson, Kylie Thompson, Jayden Burkett, Kisione Taulani and Adnan Ahmad face Hume region courts

A former civil engineer who allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign begged to keep his demerit points in court. He’s just one of the people to face Hume courts over alleged driving offences.

Undriveable vehicles, drug drivers and stolen motorbikes are just some of the cases that have passed through Hume region magistrates’ court in recent weeks.

Civil engineer pleads with magistrate to keep points

A Pakistani father and civil engineer living in the Goulburn Valley region was told by a magistrate he will eventually have to face a charge he refused to plead guilty to.

Adnan Ahmad, 45, pleaded not guilty at the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Friday June 9 to allegedly failing to stop at a stop sign.

The police prosecutor told the court police had observed Mr Ahmad driving a Toyota Camry Sedan and travelling at a consistent speed when he allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign in Shepparton about 8.30pm on November 1 last year.

Police then pulled over Mr Ahmad and he produced his licence and was interviewed, the court heard.

His reason for the alleged offence was due to police “following him”.

The father told the court he had been struggling in his life and has a son with autism.

Adnan Ahmad pleaded not guilty at the Shepparton Magistrates' Court on Friday.

The 45-year-old also told the court he was a former civil engineer but was currently unemployed.

Magistrate Victoria Campbell told Mr Ahmad that if he were to plead guilty he would be placed on a good behaviour bond for six months and would lose three demerit points.

However Mr Ahmad begged to not lose his points as he only had one point left and needed his licence, the court heard.

But Ms Campbell told Mr Ahmad it was not up to her and whether he pleaded guilty or not he would still lose the points.

“I have no choice,” Ms Campbell said.

“This is the best outcome in court.

“I have no power over it.”

She told him he would have to write to VicRoads.

Mr Ahmad proceeded with his decision and pleaded not guilty.

“Eventually you’re going to have to face this charge,” Ms Campbell told the father.

The matter was adjourned for a contested hearing later this year.

Unlicenced because he couldn’t pass the test

A Mooroopna dry cleaner who failed his Victorian driving test multiple times continued to drive on an expired Tongan licence.

Kisione Taulani pleaded guilty in the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Friday June 2 to driving without a valid licence.

The 26-year-old was driving in Tatura on September 2 last year when police pulled him over for a licence check.

Kisione Taulani leaves the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court after keeping his licence.

The Tatura man produced an expired Tongan licence and explained he couldn’t produce a Victorian licence as he’d failed the driving test “several times”.

He has since passed the driving test and has a valid licence.

Magistrate Ian Watkins said he was pleased Taulani had gotten his licence but warned him to never drive again when unlicensed.

“I won’t take your licence off you today,” Mr Watkins said.

Taulani was fined $500 without conviction.

Apprentice shop fitter learns burnouts aren’t so ‘cool’

A shop fitter has been warned doing burnouts aren’t “cool”.

Noah Frik, 19, pleaded guilty in the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Friday to loss of traction when driving and reckless driving.

On October 29, Frik was driving a white station wagon on the Goulburn Valley Hwy when police spotted him doing burnouts and revving the engine.

After producing his licence, police impounded the car and Frik had to pay $1500 to get it back.

Noah Frik faced the Shepparton Magistrates' Court on Friday and kept his licence.

“You might think it’s a pretty cool thing to do but it’s not,” Magistrate Ian Watkins said.

He warned Frik any further burnouts would mean his licence would be in “jeopardy”.

Frik was placed on a good behaviour bond without conviction and did not lose his licence.

He was ordered to complete the ‘Cool Heads’ Road Safety Program.

Drunk vegetarian caught in Maccas drive through

A vegetarian has been caught more than four times the legal limit heading to McDonalds for a burger.

Kylie Thompson pleaded guilty to drink driving in the Seymour Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

The court heard the unemployed woman was driving “erratically” through the Seymour McDonald’s on Emily St and mounted a kerb on November 26 last year.

When police pulled the 54-year-old over, she produced her licence and undertook a roadside breath test.

Back at Seymour Police Station, Thompson blew 0.208 BAC.

Her car was immediately impounded for 30 days.

Making full admissions to her erratic and drunk driving, Thompson was apologetic.

“I’m not a drinker, I don’t know why I did it — I’m very sorry,” she told the court.

“It’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever done and I think about it everyday — I don’t know why I went to Maccas as I’m a vegetarian,” she said.

Thompson’s licence was suspended and disqualified for 20 months without conviction.

She was ordered to pay $300 to the court contribution fund.

Luxury car driver caught failing to give way while driving unlicensed

A Jaguar driver used “poor judgement” when he failed to give way while driving unlicensed.

Neville Shane Christenson pleaded guilty in the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Friday May 26 to driving with a suspended licence.

Christenson was travelling in his silver Jaguar sedan through Shepparton when he was pulled over by police after failing to give way to another driver on Boxing Day last year.

Police discovered Christenson’s licence had been suspended on December 22 until March 23.

Christenson told the court it was “poor judgement” when he did not give way to another vehicle and that he didn’t know his licence was suspended at the time.

Magistrate Peter Mithen warned Christenson on the consequences of driving while suspended as he convicted him and fined him $750.

Mr Mithen told him to be “very careful” when on the roads.

Hunter caught driving stolen motorbike

A professional hunter has refused to tell police who he bought a stolen motorbike from.

Jayden Burkett appeared at the Seymour Magistrates’ Court on Thursday June 1, pleading guilty to driving unlicensed and driving an unregistered motor vehicle.

The court heard the 28-year-old was riding a yellow 2001 Honda motorcycle on a highway in Kilmore in August last year.

Jayden Burkett appeared at the Seymour Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

Police intercepted Burkett when they spotted the bike had no number plates.

After deeper investigation, it was discovered the motorcycle was a stolen vehicle from Greenvale in 2017.

The motorcycle’s registration expired in 2013 and police found Burkett — a Kilmore local — had never held a motorcycle licence.

When asked where he purchased the bike, he declined to comment.

Jayden Burkett was intercepted by police driving a stolen unregistered 2001 yellow Honda motorcycle, similar to the one pictured, in August last year. Picture: bikesales

Defence lawyer Chris McLennan said Burkett did purchase the bike after his relationship break up last year “messed up” his life.

Mr McLennan said Burkett was working independently as a horse trainer and had recently gotten his car licence.

He accepted he was in possession of the bike illegally, Mr McLennan told the court.

Magistrate Victoria Campbell said Burkett had a “number of priors” for driving unregistered vehicles.

“I’m sure you have learnt a very important lesson from this,” Ms Campbell said.

“You’re far too old to be driving unregistered motorcycles.”

Burkett was convicted and ordered to pay $1000 to Fines Victoria.

Oops! Mechanic urged to keep eye on licence

A Wahring man thought his licence was still “current” after having it suspended two weeks before he was intercepted again by police.

Daniel Jack, 43, appeared at the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Monday May 22 where he pleaded guilty to driving an unregistered vehicle and while his licence was suspended.

The court heard a white Nissan Navara Ute was intercepted by police just outside of Shepparton on October 25 last year where officers discovered it was driven by Jack who had his licence suspended on October 11.

Officers also checked the vehicle and found it was unregistered and “undrivable”.

In a court document read by prosecutor Bernard O’Dwyer, officers questioned Jack why his licence was previously suspended, to which he responded saying he had a night out and did something “stupid”.

Jack said his ute was booked into a mechanic at the time, the court heard.

Jack had also had previous traffic offences — a drink driving charge in 2008, possessing a concentration of drugs and speeding offences in 2007 and 2003.

Jack was driving his Nissan ute, similar to the one pictured, when he was intercepted. Picture: Supplied

“Obviously some dated matters there Mr Jack,” Judicial registrar Anthony Gwynne said.

Jack told the court he had no excuse for such behaviour and was going through a “very turbulent period”.

“There’s lots of balls on the table and not many going into holes,” Jack said.

He also told the court there was a licenced driver in the passenger seat of the vehicle when he was intercepted and shouldn’t have driven instead, wanting to knock the mistakes “on the head today”.

Mr Gwynne told Jack he was good at acknowledging his mistakes.

“Your licence must be critical to you,” Judicial registrar Gwynne said.

“It’s a little hard being far from Shepparton — it’s a long walk,” Jack replied, who travels to Shepparton for work.

While Mr Gwynne said there was no “benefit” to the community for Jack to lose his licence again.

“Essentially you have just stuffed up,” Mr Gwynne said.

He was fined $500 without conviction.

Mr Gwynne urged Jack to start to “put some balls on the table into holes”.

Drugged up mum banned from driving

A woman who returned a positive drug test will no longer be allowed to drive her son around.

Jodie Eaton, 39, appeared at the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Monday May 22 pleading guilty to driving a motor vehicle with illicit drug present in oral fluid.

The court heard police observed Eaton driving a purple sedan in Shepparton on May 25 last year, where she was intercepted at a service station.

On request, Eaton produced her driver’s licence to the officers and accompanied them to a police roadside testing vehicle for a drug test.

When it came back positive, Eaton admitted she had taken cannabis and methamphetamine and explained to police she had no reason to be driving while under the influence of drugs.

Jodie Eaton appeared at the Shepparton Magistrates' Court on Monday.

The 39-year-old previously had her licence suspended for six months in June 2021.

She was also caught driving while disqualified in December 2021 and April 2022.

Eaton told the court she should have not been driving at the time and was hoping she wouldn’t get caught.

“There will be days where it’s going to be difficult,” she said of losing her licence.

Eaton also said having no licence would impact her as she would be unable to drive her son to places.

Mr Gwynne, the judicial registrar, told the mother she should not offend again as there would be a “situation” she wouldn’t want to be in.

“Please don’t feel that your only option is to punt,” he said.

Eaton’s licence was cancelled and disqualified for a period of 12 months without conviction and was issued a fine of just over $400.